The Administrative Core provides strong centralized scientific and administrative leadership to the PPG, which facilitates synergistic interactions between the four projects and the other core and maintains the overall focus of the program project. Dr. Fabio Cominelli, Program Director, has primary responsibility for all aspects of the program. He will be assisted by the Executive Committee (project and core leaders), as well as the Internal and Extemal Advisory Boards. This core will oversee all annual budgets, monitor expenses and provide monthly statements of financial activities to the four projects and two cores. In addition, all program-related meetings will be scheduled through the core. These include the bi-weekly meeting of the Executive Committee to evaluate productivity, allocation of core usage, and program resources, discussions of future directions as well as presentation of research in progress, identification of problems and discussion of alternative approaches and solutions. The Adminstrative Core will also offer centralized biostatistical and manuscript support to all the projects. The enrichment program ofthe Administrative Core will arrange for the Annual Meeting of the Extemal Advisory Board as well as the Annual Intemational Scientific Workshop. In addition, generation of materials to be reviewed by the Advisory Boards will be handled through the Administrative Core. Finally, the Administrative Core will prepare, generate and assemble materials required for the annual progress reports and will insure that all additional NIH and institutional reporting requirements concerning PPG activities are fulfilled in a timely manner.

Public Health Relevance

CD affects more than 500,000 individuals in the US and incurs significant costs to society. Understanding the precise mechanisms and immune defects that cause the disease will allow us to develop better therapies and begin to develop a cure for this devastating disease.